Enantioselective synthesis of 3-amino-1-aryl-1H-benzo[f]chromene-2-carbonitrile derivatives by Fe3O4@PS-arginine as an efficient chiral magnetic nanocatalyst

A novel chiral magnetic nanocatalyst was prepared by the surface modification of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with a chloropropylsilane and further by arginine to form Fe3O4@propylsilan-arginine (Fe3O4@PS-Arg). After the structural confirmation of Fe3O4@PS-Arg synthesized MNPs by Fourier transform-infrared, X-ray diffraction, field emission-scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating-sample magnetometry and thermogravimetric analyses, their catalytic activity was evaluated for one-pot enantioselective synthesis of 3-amino-1-aryl-1H-benzo[f]chromene-2-carbonitrile derivatives. The results showed that in the presence of 0.07 g Fe3O4@PS-Arg nanocatalyst and ethanol as solvent, the best reaction yield (96%) was obtained in the least time (5 min). Easy operation, reusability and stability, short reaction time, high reaction yields and good enantioselectivity are the major advantages of the newly synthesized nanocatalyst. Also, this study provides a novel strategy for further research and investigation on the synthesis of new reusable enantioselective catalysts and chiral compounds.